Pumice eruptions of the lesser Antilles

Stratigraphic studies on the active and potentially active volcanoes of the Lesser Antilles have revealed two main types of andesitic pyroclastic deposit. One with dense clasts in a poorly vesicular ash represents nuée ardente eruptions of Pelean type and the other group of vesicular pumice and ash represent both Plinian airfall and ash-pumice flow eruptions. The pumiceous deposits can be divided into airfall lapilli, airfall ash, crystal-pumice surge, ashpumice flow and ash hurricane types. No pumice eruptions have been witnessed in the Lesser Antilles during the period of written history although the stratigraphy of archaeological sites shows they occurred in pre-Columbian times. Detailed stratigraphic studies of Mt. Pelée, Martinique, and the Quill, St. Eustatius, show that, throughout their history, pumice eruptions have alternated with nuée ardente eruptions with approximately equal frequency. The widespread occurrence of pumiceous deposits on many of the West Indian volcanoes and the frequent alternations in the stratigraphic sections suggest the high probability that they will be witnessed in the future. On Martinique, some on the late prehistoric pumiceous pyroclastic flow deposits (the ash hurricanes) have been traced 20 km from the central vent to the out-skirts of Fort de France, indicating that they are the major hazard in the Lesser Antilles. Measured stratigraphic sections show that the Pelean type nuée ardente deposits are separated from the pumiceous pyroclastic deposits by others of intermediate vesicularity and appearance. The presence of such deposits of intermediate vesicularity could provide a future warning of impending change in pyroclastic style. As no such deposits formed on Mt. Pelée this century the present «safer» episode of nuée ardente (Pelean type) activity is expected to continue.     

Transmission electron microscope and rock magnetic investigations of remanence carriers in a Precambrian metadolerite

A Precambrian metadolerite dyke has two distinct types of remanence carriers; those with medium/high coercivities (unblocking fields of 20–120 mT) and those with low coercivities (unblocking fields of <15 mT). Optical examination reveals numerous submicron probably opaque inclusions in the plagioclase feldspar and also large opaque grains consisting of coarse oxidation-exsolution intergrowths of magnetite and ilmenite. All opaque phases have been examined using transmission electron microscopy together with microanalysis and electron diffraction. The submicron inclusions in the plagioclase are titanomagnetites(0 < x ≤ 0.14) with a size range between about 0.01 and 0.5 μm and axial ratios between 1 (equidimensional) and about 0.3. Many of these inclusions fall in the single-domain field but some are probably pseudo-single-domain. The large opaque grains contain almost pure magnetite and ilmenite and show no fine-scale exsolution; the magnetite regions of the intergrowths are of multidomain size and reveal multidomain structure under Lorentz electron microscopy. There are also some primary ilmenites containing very fine exsolved haematite, and there are very fine plates of ilmenite and very elongate needles of magnetite within the augite. Experiments on artificial samples containing very carefully prepared separates of plagioclase and large opaque grains show that the pure plagioclase acquires a remanence with unblocking fields of 20–140 mT and blocking temperatures of 390–590°C and the large opaque grains acquire a remanence with unblocking fields of less than 15 mT but a wide range of blocking temperatures up to about 570°C. It is concluded that the medium/high coercivity component of remanence in the rock is carried largely or possibly entirely by the submicron magnetites within the plagioclase and that the low coercivity component is carried largely or entirely by the multidomain magnetites in the large opaques. The contribution of the magnetite needles in the augite is uncertain as the rock does not contain any detectable component of remanence with the extremely high coercivities expected from their very elongate shape.     

Controls on the chemistry of springs at Teels Marsh,Mineral County,Nevada

Evaporative process plays a dominant role in determining the water chemistry of the springs at Teels Marsh, a closed basin in western Nevada. Analysis of the spring waters indicates that calcium, magnesium, sulfate, and silica are removed from solution during dry periods, even though groundwater is undersaturated with respect to gypsum, amorphous silica, and sepiolite. The removal mechanism is precipitation of authigenic phases such as gypsum above the water table, in the vadose zone.In episodes of rain and snowfall in which none of the waters enters the phreatic zone, ions in the rain and snow accumulate near the ground surface. This accumulation of material, together with the sparse rain and snowfall, inhibits chemical weathering of silicate minerals. Only at high elevations in the basin is there sufficient fluxing of water through the alluvium for silicate weathering to make a significant contribution to the sodium content of the springs. When a sufficiently heavy rainfall occurs, salts are partially dissolved and the ions transported to the permanent groundwater. The kinetics of dissolution of secondary phases in the vadose zone exert an important control on the composition of the springs.     

Mineralogy of the Ibitira eucrite and comparison with other eucrites and lunar samples

Ibitira meteorite is interpreted as a strongly metamorphosed, unbrecciated, vesicular eucrite with a primary variolitic and secondary hornfelsic texture dominated by 60% pyroxene (bulk composition En₃₇Fs₄₈Wo₁₅ exsolved into lamellae several micrometers wide of augite En₃₂Fs₂₇Wo₄₁ and pigeonite En₄₀Fs₅₆Wo₄) and 30% plagioclase An₉₄ (mosaic extinction and variable structural state). Minor phases are 5% tridymite plates one-quarter occupied by plagioclase (An₉₄) inclusions; several percent intergrowths of ilmenite and Ti-chromite with trace kamacite Fe₉₉Co_0.5Ni_0.2 and narrow olivine (Fa₈₃) rims; one grain of low-Ti-chromite enclosed in tridymite; trace troilite with kamacite Fe₉₈Co_1.0Ni_0.9. Euhedral ilmenite, Ti-chromite, plagioclase and merrillite in vesicles indicate vapor deposition. These properties can be explained by a series of processes including at least the following: (1) igneous crystallization under pressure low enough to allow vesiculation, (2) prolonged metamorphism, perhaps associated with vapor deposition and reduction, to produce the coarse exsolution of the pyroxene and the coarse ilmenite-chromite intergrowths, (3) strong shock which affected the plagioclase and tridymite but not the pyroxene, (4) sufficient annealing to allow recrystallization of the plagioclase and tridymite, and partial conversion to the low structural state of the former.     

A comparative isotopic study of the Lady Loretta zinc-lead-silver deposit

Measurements of the ³⁴S/³²S ratios in sulphides from the slightly metamorphosed Lady Loretta deposit show the sphalerite and galena to be in isotopic equilibrium. Pyrite in immediate association with these sulphides is not isotopically related. A similar distribution of sulphur isotopes had previously been noted in the even less altered McArthur deposit, for which a dual sulphur source was postulated. This fresh isotopic evidence from Lady Loretta now suggests that such a genesis for stratiform sulphides from the Proterozoic is not uncommon.     

The metallic microstructures and thermal histories of severely reheated chondrites

The metallographic structures of eight severely reheated chondrites (Farmington, Ramsdorf, Orvinio, Wickenburg, Lubbock, Rose City, Arapahoe and Tadjera) have been studied by optical, scanning electron microscope and electron microprobe techniques. Unreheated chondrites and experimentally heat treated chondritic material have also been examined.The following metallographic characteristics can be used to estimate the post-shock residual temperature of reheated chondrites: melted appearance of metal-troilite, presence of martensite, P enrichment of the metal, and the averaging of central metal grain compositions. Metallographic characteristics used to estimate the cooling rates of the severely reheated chondrites are the Ni content of troilite, the Ni gradients in metal grain rims, and the presence of secondary kamacite and phosphides. Farmington, Ramsdorf, Orvinio, Lubbock, Rose City and several of the heat treatment specimens have substantial P in solution in the metal grains ( > 0.1 wt%). P enrichment is apparently caused by reduction of phosphates upon severe reheating and partial melting of metal-troilite areas in chondritic meteorites.The eight severely reheated chondrites studied showed evidence of reheating to temperatures ranging from ～ 950°C to ～ 1250°C. Ramsdorf has the highest reheating temperature (1200–1250°C) and the fastest cooling rate ～ 100°C/day. Wickenberg has the lowest reheating temperature (950–1000°C) and the slowest cooling rate, ～ 1°C/100yrs. Cooling rate estimates correspond to post-reheating burial depths of less than 1 to ～ 1000m.